Senior Wastewater Utility Planner - Treatment

  • King County, WA
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Jul 17, 2024
Full Time Planning and Development Utilities Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Salary: $47.92 - $60.74 Hourly USD

Job Description

Summary
Exciting News! The Wastewater Treatment Division's Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning Group is looking for a career service Senior - Wastewater Utility Planner (WQPPM III) who wants to work for an organization that empowers continued learning, values work/life balance, and works to support thriving, resilient neighborhoods, and communities in the Puget Sound region.

About The Role:
This position will serve as senior planner and planning project manager primarily for the Treatment Planning Program.

The Treatment Planning Program develops long-range plans to ensure the capacity of WTD's three large, regional treatment plants and two small, independent treatment plants as well as to meet treatment regulations. Significant work occurring within the program now and for the next several years includes addressing current and future requirements of the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit (PSNGP) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits; developing a Long-term Treatment Plan; developing conceptual capital projects to increase treatment capacity; developing conceptual projects that progress into project delivery and drive large capital investments in WTD's infrastructure; leading treatment process studies to improve and optimize treatment operations; and developing and recommending policy and strategic guidance for the region's regional wastewater system.

The successful candidate for this position will join a highly collaborative team and primarily contribute, lead, and manage projects and efforts within the Treatment Planning Program. These efforts include helping enable WTD to plan strategically for a variety of upcoming needs and changing conditions for many decades, guiding future investments and policies in a manner that facilitates the development of detailed, near-term plans supporting the broader, long-term vision for each of King County WTD's wastewater treatment plants and systemwide. This position will work independently as well as lead collaborative teams at the senior level, under the program manager, to develop and lead decision-making processes, develop technical information, and develop necessary documentation for decision making and to comply with regulatory requirements. This position will also provide project guidance and work item support to mid- and junior-level staff within related programs.

This position performs work remotely and onsite.

About The Team:
The Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning Group is one of two groups within the Wastewater Treatment Division that develop, update, and track implementation of long-term plans for the regional wastewater system. Key focus areas of this group are planning for:

  • Treatment plant capacity to accommodate population growth
  • Level of treatment to meet existing and future regulations
  • Pipe and pump capacity for the separated conveyance system and
  • Reducing infiltration and inflow into the sewer system
while considering climate impacts and adaptation, equity and social justice, resource recovery needs and opportunities, management of aging infrastructure, cost and affordability, and more.

More information on the programs within the Treatment and Separated Conveyance Planning group can be found here:
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a WQPPM III, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.
Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing:
  • Lead or assist in the development of various technical and policy components of WTD's treatment planning.
  • Review initiatives, plans, regulations, policies, technical studies, and documents for impacts on WTD's treatment and/or separated conveyance system.
  • Lead, coordinate, develop, execute, and/or assist with various types of planning processes, decision making roadmaps, technical, costing, and policy analyses, such as treatment options, conveyance options, benefit/costs analysis, literature reviews, sustainability analyses, and data statistical analyses to evaluate technical concepts, and recommended policies and decisions to inform decision-making processes.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with other units, staff, and leadership within and throughout WTD to consider the nexus and context of other system needs, opportunities, and priorities as they relate to various planning efforts.
  • Incorporate principles of sustainability, climate, and equity, as described in the County's Strategic Climate Action Plan and Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, into the program and projects.
  • Lead, prepare, and review written reports, memos, and other documents necessary to support various planning efforts and inform decision making processes.
  • Negotiate and craft agreements with component agencies and regulators, and other organizations and governments to support planning and project delivery.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Must Bring:
  • Experience leading planning, environmental review, decision-making processes, and/or policy analysis.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information to a wide variety of expert and non-expert audiences, such as the general public, nongovernmental organizations, other sewer utilities, agency leadership, and/or elected representatives.
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of project management, contract management, and/or team management.
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of planning techniques, principles, and/or practices to develop plans and solutions for complex projects.
  • Experience working independently with minimal guidance where there may be ambiguity and established procedures and policies may not exist and must be developed to craft solutions and pathways leading to recommendations.
  • Demonstrated skill in adapting to changing priorities, needs, and direction.
Competencies You Bring:
Collaborates - Works cooperatively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives. Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas. Partners with others to get work done. Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments. Gains trust and support of others.

Plans and Aligns - Sets objectives to align with broader organizational goals. Breaks down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions. Stages activities with relevant milestones and schedules. Anticipates and adjusts effective contingency plans.
Interpersonal Savvy - Relates comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture, and geography. Acts with diplomacy and tact. Builds rapport in an open, friendly, and accepting way. Builds constructive relationships with people both similar and different to self. Picks up on interpersonal and group dynamics.
Strategic Mindset - Anticipates future trends and implications accurately. Readily poses future scenarios. Articulates credible pictures and visions of possibilities that will create sustainable value. Creates competitive and breakthrough strategies that show a clear connection between vision and action.
Action Oriented - Readily acts on challenges, without unnecessary planning. Identifies and seizes new opportunities. Displays a can-do attitude in good and bad times. Steps up to handle tough issues.

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:
  • Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, environmental science, or closely related field OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Knowledge of wastewater treatment methods and techniques.
  • Knowledge of King County's regional wastewater conveyance and treatment system.
  • Knowledge of environmental regulations, such as federal Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and/or Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit (PSNGP).
  • Knowledge of local government processes, public utility issues, and communications.
  • Experience using decision making criteria, principles and practices, including identifying issues needing management attention/input.
  • Experience effectively presenting to local agencies, elected officials, community groups, and/or the general public.
  • Experience leading decision-making processes

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:
Remote and Onsite Work Details: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements, averaging once per month, usually at King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104) or at one of WTD's regional treatment plants. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly. This work arrangement promotes work-life-balance and reduces carbon footprint under the department's vision of Green Where We Work.
Remote Work Location Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
Work Location: Remote/Onsite - King Street Center 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104 or one of WTD's regional treatment plants.
Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is exempt from the overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and is not overtime eligible.
Union Representation: This position is represented by The Technical Employees' Association.

Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value diverse perspectives, life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews. Applications without the following required materials will not be considered for this position.

To apply, submit a:
  • Complete Application
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening. There will be a written examination following interviews.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Delores Venters - dventers@kingcounty.gov

Discover More about DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
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Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.


Closing Date/Time:

Job Address

Seattle, Washington United States View Map